Falling: A Disabled Love Story theatre review – A personal portrait
A stunning piece of work with a jaw-dropping revelation at its core
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This is the type of show where going in knowing as little about it as possible reaps more rewards. The premise is simple: an insight into life with a physical disability and what that means in terms of intimacy, love and sex. That’s it... but not really. Dating apps are tricky enough, let alone when you live with a disability. How much do you reveal to begin with? When do you play the ‘disability card’, as performer Aaron Pang calls it?
The audience helps Pang assemble a hypothetical dating profile and we discover more about his life and disability. Stories about his parents, friends and potential lovers are told tenderly and with great care. Each anecdote adds layers to a portrait that is deeply personal yet instantly relatable. Pang’s strength as a performer is his ability to engage the audience. We’re drawn in by his expert storytelling skills, and although this show is about disability, we neither pity nor ‘other’ him. This is just one audience, one performer and a jaw-dropping reveal that leaves the room stunned.
Falling, Pleasance Courtyard, until 25 August, 3pm; main picture: Kaelan Novak.